Geometric construction system

ABSTRACT

A geometric construction system includes at least two substantially flat panels and at least a connecting rod. Each panel has a plurality of side edges, each of which has two opposite end sections and a basin section that extends between and inwardly relative to the end sections and that has two opposite end faces. The connecting rod has at least two interconnected connecting portions, each of which is complementary to and is received in the basin section. Each connecting portion has two opposite ends respectively pivoted on the end faces so as to permit each panel to be freely turnable about an axis. At least two toothed wheel members are respectively and rotatably mounted on said panels, and mesh with each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/725,781, filed by the applicant on Nov. 29, 2000, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a geometric construction system, more particularly to a geometric construction system including a plurality of flat panels and a plurality of connecting rods for sidewisely interconnecting the panels.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] As described in the specification of the aforementioned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/725,781, conventional geometric construction systems are disadvantageous in that the flat panels of the same cannot overlap with each other.

[0006]FIG. 1 illustrates a construction assembly for a conventional geometric construction system. The construction assembly includes a rectangular construction element 1 with a hole formed at one side thereof, an axle 2 having one end that is inserted fittingly and rotatably into the hole, and a wheel 3 mounted on the other end of the axle 2. As such, a number of the construction assemblies can be assembled into a vehicle-like toy. However, there is still a need for more variable configurations that can be assembled and that are more amusing in construction for the geometric construction system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a geometric construction system that is capable of permitting two adjacent coupled panels to overlap with each other and that includes engageable toothed wheel members that are amusing to play with.

[0008] Accordingly, a geometric construction system of this invention comprises: at least two substantially flat panels of equilateral polygonal shape, each of the panels having a plurality of side edges, each of which has two opposite end sections and a basin section that extends between and inwardly relative to the end sections and that has two opposite end faces respectively transverse to the end sections; at least a connecting rod having at least two interconnected connecting portions, each which extends in a longitudinal direction and each of which is complementary to and is received in the basin section of one of the side edges of one of the panels, each of the connecting portions having two opposite ends respectively pivoted on the end faces of the basin section of the one of the side edges of the respective one of the panels so as to permit each of the panels to be freely turnable about an axis that extends through the opposite ends of the respective one of the connecting portions of the connecting rod in the longitudinal direction; and at least two toothed wheel members respectively and rotatably mounted on the panels at the same sides of the panels, and meshing with one another so as to be turnable synchronously relative to the panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention,

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a construction assembly of a conventional geometric construction system;

[0011]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a geometric construction system embodying this invention, with two square panels to be coupled by a connecting rod having a generally elliptical cross-section and two toothed wheel members engageable to each other;

[0012]FIG. 3 is another exploded view to illustrate the connection of the panels and the connecting rod of the geometric construction system of FIG. 2 in detail;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a top view of an assembly of the panels, the connecting rod, and the toothed wheel members of the geometric construction system of FIG. 2, with the panels being horizontally aligned;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a side view of the assembly of the panels, the connecting rod, and the toothed wheel members of the geometric construction system of FIG. 2, with the panels being formed into a right angle;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a top view of the assembly of the panels, the connecting rod, and the toothed wheel members of FIG. 5;

[0016]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view to illustrate another geometric construction system modified from that of FIG. 2, with triangular panels and the toothed wheel members;

[0017]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an assembly of the triangular panels and the toothed wheel members of FIG. 7;

[0018]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an assembly of the triangular panels of FIG. 7 and the rectangular panels of FIG. 2 with the toothed wheel members mounted thereon;

[0019]FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an assembly of a three-piece axle and the toothed wheel members of FIG. 2; and

[0020]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the assembly of the three-piece axle and the toothed wheel members of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a geometric construction system of this invention. The geometric construction system includes at least two substantially flat panels 10 of equilateral polygonal shape, each of the panels 10 having a plurality of side edges 13, each of which has two opposite end sections 131 and a basin section 132 that extends between and inwardly relative to the end sections 131 and that has two opposite end faces 133 respectively transverse to the end sections 131; and at least a connecting rod 20 of a generally elliptical cross-section, which has two interconnected connecting portions 23, each of which extends in a longitudinal direction and each of which is complementary to and is received in the basin section 132 of one of the side edges 13 of one of the panels 10. Each of the connecting portions 23 has two opposite ends 231 respectively pivoted on the end faces 133 of the basin section 132 of one of the side edges 13 of the respective one of the panels 10 so as to permit each of the panels 10 to be freely turnable about an axis (X) that is defined by the respective connecting portion 23 and that extends through the opposite ends 231 of the respective one of the connecting portions 23 of the connecting rod 20 in the longitudinal direction. Each of the polygonal panels 10 is square in shape for this embodiment.

[0022] Each of the end faces 133 of the basin section 132 of each of the side edges 13 is formed with a boss 12 projecting therefrom and transverse thereto. Each of the ends 231 of each of the connecting portions 23 of the connecting rod 20 is formed with a recess 211 that fittingly receives the boss 12 on the respective one of the end faces 133 so as to permit rotation of each of the panels 10 about the respective axis (X). It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that each of the end faces 133 of the basin section 132 can be formed with the recess 211 instead of the boss 12, and that each of the ends 231 of each of the connecting portions 23 can be formed with the boss 12 instead of the recess 211. Alternatively, one of the end faces 133 of the basin section 132 can be formed with the boss 12 and the other one can be formed with the recess 211, whereas one of the ends 231 of each of the connecting portions 23 can be formed with the boss 12 and the other one can be formed with the recess 211.

[0023] Each of the end faces 133 has a rounded edge 1331 circumferentially surrounding the boss 12. The basin section 132 of each of the side edges 13 has a depth (D) greater than the diameter of the associated rounded edge 1331. Each of the ends 231 of each of the connecting portions 23 has a rounded edge 2311 circumferentially surrounding the recess 211, and further has a diameter that is substantially equal to that of the rounded edge 1331 of the associated end face 133. The axis (X) passes through centers of the rounded edges 1331 of the end faces 133 of the basin section 132 and the rounded edges 2311 of the ends 231 of the respective one of the connecting portions 23. Preferably, the connecting rod 20 has a width substantially equal to two times of the diameter of the rounded edge 1331 of each of the end faces 133 so as to permit two coupled panels 10 to be able to be evenly overlap with each other (see FIG. 5).

[0024] Each of the panels 10 is formed with four through-holes 11 respectively at four corners thereof.

[0025] At least two toothed wheel members 30 are respectively and rotatably mounted on the coupled panels 10 at the same sides of the panels 10, and meshing with one another so as to be turnable synchronously relative to the panels 10. Each of the toothed wheel members 30 includes a toothed wheel piece 31 and a shaft 33 that extends from a center of the toothed wheel piece 31 and that is inserted fittingly and rotatably into and through one of the through-holes 11 in a respective one of the panels 10 so as to permit the toothed wheel members 30 to be rotatable relative to the panels 10. The shaft 33 of each of the toothed wheel members 30 has an anchored end 331 that engages the respective panel 10 so as to permit the respective toothed wheel member 30 to be retained in the respective through-hole 11, and is formed with two opposite slits 34 that extend axially from the anchored end 331 so as to be retractile.

[0026] A crank handle 40 has one end 41 selectively inserted into a central hole 32 in the toothed wheel piece 31 of one of the toothed wheel members 30 so as to rotate the toothed wheel members 30.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the toothed wheel members 30 can still mesh with each other even after the coupled panels 10 are turned from a horizontally aligned position to a position for forming a right angle therebetween.

[0028]FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another geometric construction system modified from that of FIG. 3. The modified geometric construction system includes a plurality of coupled triangular panels 10 that can be assembled into a configuration of a triangular pyramid with three toothed wheel members 30 respectively mounted on the panels 10 and meshing with each other.

[0029]FIG. 9 illustrates another configuration assembled by using the triangular and rectangular panels 10, the connecting rods 20 and the toothed wheel members 30.

[0030]FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an assembly of a three-piece axle 70 and two toothed wheel members 30 of FIG. 2. The three-piece axle 70 includes a middle tube 71 formed with two opposite retaining grooves 72 at two opposite ends, and a pair of opposite end tubes 60, each of which is formed with two opposite tongues 62 at two opposite ends for selectively engaging one of the retaining grooves 72 in a respective one of the ends of the middle tube 71 when the end tube 60 is sleeved on the respective middle tube 71. A retaining protrusion 61 is formed on and projects from an outer surface of each of the end tubes 60. The toothed wheel piece 31 of each of the toothed wheel members 30 has radially spaced apart first and second annular flanges 35, 36 that project therefrom, that surround the center thereof, and that define an annular retaining groove 37 therebetween. A plurality of spaced apart retaining tongues 351 extend radially from the first flange 35 toward the second flange 36. Each of the end tubes 60 is inserted into the retaining groove 37 in a respective toothed wheel member 30, and is held therein by frictional engagement of the retaining protrusion 61 with the second flange 36 and of the retaining tongues 351 with the adjacent end tube 60.

[0031] With the connecting rod 20 being formed with a plurality of spaced apart recesses 2311 in each end 231 of each connecting portion 23, and with the end faces 133 of the basin section 132 of each side edge 13 being formed with the bosses 12, each coupled panel 10 is permitted to be freely rotated about the respective axis (X) toward and away from an adjacent panel 10, and the coupled panels 10 are permitted to be evenly stacked one above the other.

[0032] With the invention thus explained, it is apparent that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited only as recited in the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A geometric construction system comprising: at least two substantially flat panels of equilateral polygonal shape, each of said panels having a plurality of side edges, each of which has two opposite end sections and a basin section that extends between and inwardly relative to said end sections and that has two opposite end faces respectively transverse to said end sections; at least a connecting rod having at least two interconnected connecting portions, each which extends in a longitudinal direction and each of which is complementary to and is received in said basin section of one of said side edges of one of said panels, each of said connecting portions having two opposite ends respectively pivoted on said end faces of said basin section of said one of said side edges of the respective one of said panels so as to permit each of said panels to be freely turnable about an axis that extends through said opposite ends of the respective one of said connecting portions of said connecting rod in the longitudinal direction; and at least two toothed wheel members respectively and rotatably mounted on said panels at the same sides of said panels, and meshing with one another so as to be turnable synchronously relative to said panels.
 2. The geometric construction system of claim 1, wherein each of said panels is formed with a through-hole, each of said toothed wheel members including a toothed wheel piece and a shaft that extends from a center of said toothed wheel piece and that is inserted fittingly and rotatably into and through said through-hole of a respective one of said panels.
 3. The geometric construction system of claim 2, further comprising a crank handle selectively connected to one of said toothed wheel members for rotating said toothed wheel members. 